Christopher Kane in talks with Kering to buy back control of his brand

British designer Christopher Kane is in talks with luxury conglomerate Kering to buy back control of his business.

Kering, which is also home to luxury super brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, has issued a statement to say it is consulting with Kane “about the conditions in which the British designer could take back full control of the eponymous brand”.

Kane, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, founded his label in 2006 and Kering acquired a 51% stake in 2013. He is one of the most celebrated British designers and his shows remain a highlight of London Fashion Week, however relative to many of Kering’s assets the business is small.

Kering said it had made an accounting provision to classify the brand as “Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations”in its next set of half-year numbers to 30 June, which are due to be published on 26 July.

“Christopher Kane and Kering wish to continue to collaborate with the aim of achieving a gradual and harmonious transition,” Kering said in a statement.

For its part, Kering would appear to be focusing its efforts on its larger, international super brands. It recently stated an ambition to grow its phenomenally succesful Gucci brand into a €10bn business.

Lauretta Roberts is managing director and Editor-in-Chief of The Industry, having acquired the business along with business partner Antony Hawman in July 2015. She is also the former director of brand & propositions of trend forecaster WGSN and a former editor of Drapers magazine.

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